Sign box



April 11, 1939 w. F. REISIGER.

SIGN BOX Filed March 10, 1958 INVENTOR. W

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGN BOX Application March 10,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a novel and improved form of sign box, the novel features of which will be best understood from the following description and the annexed drawing, in which I I have shown a selected embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical rear view of a sign box constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure appearing in Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a view substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. 'I'ne sign box illustrated herein is of the type designed for use with a changeable sign of the Web type, here shown as supported on parallel spindles I which in turn are supported on suitable bearings 2. The spindles I carry rollers between which the web 3 is stretched adjacent the front of the box.

The bearings 2 are mounted upon end plates 4 and 5 and preferably on the inside surfaces thereof, by which is meant the surfaces faced towards the inside of the box. Suitable operating means to rotate the spindles in unison is indicated in various figures, being best shown in Fig. 4 as a handle 5 adapted to operate a train of gearing 6, as is common in the prior art.

One of the end plates, here shown as the plate l, has a vertically extending rear edge I adjacent which is disposed a hinge 8 by means of which the plate 4 is mounted upon a support 9 which will usually be the frame of a vehicle, such as a railroad car, in which the sign box is used. Another part of the framework of the same car is shown diagrammatically at Ill.

Behind the web 3 and shown as extending between the end plates is a lamp support iltadapted to support one or more lamps I2 behind the Web 3 in position to illuminate that web. The box is completed by means of a plurality of tubes extending between the box ends and here shown as four substantially parallel tubes l3, I4, I5, and 16. These tubes are rigidly connected to the end plates by any suitable means, and they may be welded to those plates or, if desired, may be received in openings therein and upset. The details of securing the parts together may vary considerably without departing from the scope 1938, Serial No. 194,986

of the invention and therefore those details will not be dwelt upon.

A fifth tube I1 is also provided behind the lamps and preferably in the same vertical planes as the tubes l4 and I6, and this tube is preferably secured to the endplate 4 adjacent the bottom thereof and to the plate 5 adjacent its top. It will be seen that this diagonal tube I1 is also secured to the end plate 4 adjacent the vertical edge 1 thereof adjacent which the hinge is also disposed.

By the above arrangement a sign box is provided which is extremely simple in character and which is cheaply made, but which is extremely light and strong. The parts are preferably made of metal of any suitable kind, and I have found that by the above construction a box is provided which will stand the severe usage demanded of it in vehicles without losing its shape. This is particularly important where a box is hinged as shown. At the same time, the tubular construction of the box makes it possible to obtain ready access to the interior thereof. I have shown the box as covered on its rear by a suitable cover l8 which may be easily removed, after which the lamps or any other elements inside of the box may be readily reached.

While I have shown the invention as embodied in a specific form, it is to be understood that various changes in details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

In combination, a sign box comprising two spaced parallel end plates, one of said end plates having a vertically extending edge, a support to which said plate is hinged adjacent said vertical edge, bearings mounted on the insides of said plates and supporting the spindles of a changeable sign of the web type disposed betwen the end plates, a lamp support carried by the box in position for the lamp or lamps thereon to illuminate said sign, a plurality of tubes each having its opposite ends rigidly secured to said end plates, and another tube having one end rigidly connected to said hinged end plate adjacent the bottom thereof and adjacent said vertical edge thereof, and the other end rigidly connected to the other end plate adjacent the top thereof.

WILLIAM F. REISIGER. 

